*Links to books mentioned below are to my Amazon affiliate page! I use any money I make with these links to purchase books for my weekly giveaway!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book! Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts are the smart folks behind giving It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus! Join me!

Listening to: The Shining by Stephen King. Still listening – we went to Disney last week and it just did not feel right to listen to this while at the happiest place on Earth. Got back to it this weekend (got home Saturday).

On my nightstand: Reading before bedtime is so hard. I read a page or two and then fall asleep. I just started Cross Her Heart by Pinborough. Only on page 3, but into it so far!

Reading with the toddler: She is back into a telling time book with Peppa Pig. This is one I bought for her when she was just months old. It’s interesting to me how she goes back and forth between new books we check out from the library and old favorites. She even has been revisiting board books from time to time.

*Links to books mentioned below are to my Amazon affiliate page! I use any money I make with these links to purchase books for my weekly giveaway!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book! Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts are the smart folks behind giving It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus! Join me!

You can tell when life is getting a little too extra for me – my Monday posts drop off! I’m still reading – OF COURSE!

Listening to: Just started The Shining by Stephen King. Would you believe I’ve never even seen this movie? Already planning to watch it after I finish listening to this book.

Each year, a group of friends and I go on a #Nerdcation. For the past several years, we have gone to the National Book Festival in Washington DC. Last year, we started seeing posts from folks who were at the Decatur Book Festival and realized that a few of the authors we were seeing in DC were also going there and that it actually seemed BETTER (if you can imagine)! So we decided to switch things up this year and head to Atlanta. Was it better than DC? ALL THE YES!

First, it’s closer. We could drive there. Granted, we took a scenic route getting there on Friday, BUT if you stay on track, from my house – it’s about 3 and half hours away. That totally beats all the hassle of air travel (also, it takes almost 7 hours to drive to DC).

Second, it is the ENTIRE weekend, starting on Friday evening. The National Book Festival is a one day event and they pack a lot of fun into that one day. The Decatur Book Festival kicked off with keynotes on Friday evening (we actually missed them – see science route above), but we were able to eat awesome food and relax before our big time on Saturday and Sunday.

Third, there is SO MUCH to do at the AJC Decatur Book Festival. The National Book Festival is great, don’t get me wrong, but we have been going for over five years and basically you go from room to room listening to authors. It is inside and there is a small Exhibit Hall. There is not much to walk to in the DC area where the festival is located. DBF, on the other hand, has almost TOO much to do! The speakers were in a variety of locations (all close together), so there was plenty of time spent outside. There were exhibits and other things to do and explore. The area where the festival is held is full of awesome restaurants and shops. We will be going to the DBF again, for sure.

Now for the good stuff – who did I see at DBF?

I actually ended up spending a lot of time listening to authors who write for ADULTS (shocking!). Here is my wrap up of speakers:

Saturday

Angela DiTerlizzi speaking about her new book, Just Add Glitter. She was dressed, head to toe, in glitter and talked about the publishing of the book – how the artwork was created, how they got SO MUCH glitter on the book, and more. She also read the book aloud and I loved it.

Then I saw Yuyi Morales present about her new book, Dreamers. You guys – GO BUY THIS BOOK! Beautiful illustrations, beautiful story about Yuyi’s experience coming to America from Mexico in 1994 with her infant son.

Karin Slaughter was talking about her books in one of the sessions I attended. She is a mystery writer for adults and I’ve read a couple of her books. She apparently has a huge following and has written tons of books that I added to Goodreads.

Ended the day with two awesome presentations – Teens Talk Activism and Angie Thomas! The Teens Talk session was a group of teen poets who write about things they see going on around them. Things they want to stop (racism, guns at school, etc). They are so talented and so well spoken. Amazing. I have seen Angie Thomas speak before and I love hearing her talk about her book and about diversity in books, in general.

Sunday

Sunday did not get started until noon, but there was goodness packed in the whole day. Started the day with Jason Reynolds. He was, OF COURSE, amazing. His story is so important and really one that shows it really just takes one book, one teacher to get you hooked on reading. If you can ever hear him speak in person, it is a MUST DO.

Next up was a panel of YA authors speaking about their books and answering questions about how they get their ideas. They were mostly authors who write mysteries and books that have a kind of surprising twist at the end, so it was interesting. I added quite a few books to my “to read” list because of this session. The authors were David Arnold, Tiffany Jackson, Sandhya Menon, and Kara Thomas.

After that, I went to two sessions aimed squarely at grown ups. Clever Resistance with Hannah Jewell and Bonnie Siegler and Dopesick with Beth Macy. Both were fascinating. Clever Resistance was humorous (hence the name) but important…all about ways people can resistance and not be violent or overly angry about it. Dopesick broke my heart and the author’s talk has stuck with me for days. I am looking forward to reading all of these author’s books.

All in all, it was a fantastic weekend of books and friends! I cannot wait to go back!

*Links to books mentioned below are to my Amazon affiliate page! I use any money I make with these links to purchase books for my weekly giveaway!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book! Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts are the smart folks behind giving It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus! Join me!

Listening to: Almost finished with Hunger by Roxane Gay. Such a truthful book of essays on weight, hunger and sense of body.

On my nightstand: I am part of the Launch Team for Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess, so I am lucky enough to have an advance reader copy of this awesome book! Reading it on my Kindle (which I never do – it’s making me want to download more for the Kindle, actually!)

Reading with the toddler: Our “again and again” books for this week – Yummy Yucky!,Higher! Higher! and Binky! all by Leslie Patricelli…she loves this author! We still go back to Potty every now and then…

*Links to books mentioned below are to my Amazon affiliate page! I use any money I make with these links to purchase books for my weekly giveaway!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book! Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts are the smart folks behind giving It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus! Join me!

Listening to: Finished Baby Teeth by Stage. If you like thrillers and family dramas, you’ll love this one. Page tuner! Also finished I Have a Right To by Prout. Gut wrenching and thought provoking. Now listening to This is Really Happening by Chack. I was drawn in by the cover, to be honest! Essays about life from a woman much younger than myself. I’m interested, but I think a woman much younger than myself will enjoy it more 😉

On my nightstand: Awhile ago, I listened to Girl, Wash Your Face by Hollis. I’ve now purchased a print copy that I am reading before bed each evening. Something about this book…I just love it.

Reading with the toddler: Our “again and again” books for this week – Golden Books! The Good Old Days and The Wonder of Nature. We are making a “mooseberry” clobber today BECAUSE she read about it in The Good Old Days. I love the way a kid’s brain works!

*Links to books mentioned below are to my Amazon affiliate page! I use any money I make with these links to purchase books for my weekly giveaway!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book! Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts are the smart folks behind giving It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus! Join me!

Listening to: I did not think it was possible, but I enjoyed Puddin’ by Julie Murphy SLIGHTLY more than Dumplin’. If you love strong HIGH SCHOOL kids, you need to read both of these books. Puddin’ had many “girl power” moments, where I really wanted to just stand up and clap…now I’m listening to (and cannot stop) Baby Teeth by Stage. Loving this novel about a young girl who (I think) has selective mutism and clearly some mental imbalances. You get the story from both the mom and daughter’s point of view. Page turning thriller, for sure.

On my nightstand: Awhile ago, I listened to Girl, Wash Your Face by Hollis. I’ve now purchased a print copy that I am reading before bed each evening. Something about this book…I just love it.

*Links to books mentioned below are to my Amazon affiliate page! I use any money I make with these links to purchase books for my weekly giveaway!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!

It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book! Kellee Moye, of Unleashing Readers, and Jen Vincent of Teach Mentor Texts are the smart folks behind giving It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? a kidlit focus! Join me!